SP4 William Henry Smith native of Charlottte, North Carolina was a member of the Army Selective Service and a Draftee, 20 years old and was not married. It was reported that William died from small arms fire or grenade. His body was recovered.

He served with Charlie Company, 5th Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 199th Infantry Brigade. He was awarded The Combat Infantryman’s Badge, The Bronze Star Medal, The Army Commendation Medal, The Purple Heart Medal for his combat related wounds, The Vietnam Service Medal, The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Service Medal, The National Defense Service Medal and The Good Conduct Medal.

SP4 David Brennan Schachner native of Charlotte, North Carolina was a member of the Army Selective Service and a Draftee, 20 years old and was not married. It was reported that David died from an undetermined explosion. His body was recovered.

His dog Hector and him “walked point” for patrols his whole tour looking for the elusive enemy. He was a Scout Dog Handler with the 40th Scout Dog Platoon. David and his dog saved many lives while he was walking as point man for different patrols during his time in Vietnam. His comrades remember David with a smile because he was always making them laugh. He was a great guy and a big cut up. His brother Nick Schachner was supposed to go to Vietnam his father stopped the plane because he had already had one child killed in action. He was the Son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph F. Schachner, Sr. of Charlotte, NC.

He served with Delta Company 1/35th Infantry, 3rd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, Scout Dog Platoon. He was an Infantry Scout Dog Handler. He was awarded The Combat Infantryman’s Badge, The Purple Heart Medal for his combat related wounds, the Vietnam Service Medal, The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Service Medal, The National Defense Service Medal and the Good Conduct Medal.

CPL Johnny Saxon native of Charlotte, North Carolina was a member of the Army Selective Service and a Draftee, 20 years old and was not married. It was reported that Johnny died from an undetermined explosion. His body was recovered. He served with Alpha Company, 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, “Polar Bears”, 196th Infantry Brigade.

He was awarded The Combat Infantryman’s Badge, The Bronze Star Medal, The Purple Heart Medal for his combat related wounds, The Vietnam Service Medal, The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Service Medal, The National Defense Service Medal and The Good Conduct Medal.

SGT Robert James Ross native of Charlotte, NC was a member of the Army Selective Service and a Draftee, was 21 years old and was not married. It was reported that Robert died from small arms fire or grenade. His body was recovered.

He was killed on his birthday. He was the son of Mr. James R. and Mrs. Mamie E. Taylor Ross of Charlotte, NC. He served with Delta Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. He was awarded The Combat Infantryman’s Badge, The Bronze Star Medal, The Army Achievement Medal, The Purple Heart Medal for his combat related wounds, The Vietnam Service Medal, The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Service Medal, The National Defense Service Medal and the Good Conduct Medal.

USMC PFC George Michael Price native of Charlotte, NC was 21 years old and was married. It was reported that George died from enemy mortar fire during Operation Garrard Bay, north of Dien Ban. His body was recovered. He was the husband of Mrs. Joan D. Price of Kannapolis, NC.

He served with Foxtrot Company, 2nd Battalion, 26th Marines, 1st Marine Division, 3rd MAF. He was awarded The Combat Action Ribbon (CAR), The Purple Heart Medal for his combat related wounds, The Vietnam Service Medal, The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Service Medal, The National Defense Service Medal and the Good Conduct Medal.

Sgt Sidney Edward Plattenburger native of Charlotte, NC was 20 years old and was not married. It was reported that Sidney died from artillery fire. His body was recovered.

A comrade explains that he and Sid were in the same platoon and spent a lot of time at our jobs. He was in the wire section and I was in the radio section. We used to be on guard duty together. Sidney would always talk about home and the Smokey Mountains. His Sister remembers when you were leaving the two of you sat on the bed and sang “Leaving on a jet plane”‘. I remember the fishing trips we took and that smelly bait you use to make. I have told my son and granddaughter the stories about us growing up together and the good times we had.

Two of Sid’s friends stood at attention at his coffin and as they stood there tears streamed from their eyes, it was heartbreaking. It was devastating for his brother Sonny to escort his body back from Viet Nam. It was even more devastating when he had to present the flag to his mom; he broke down as he handed the flag to her and just grabbed onto her and they both cried.

He served with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. He was awarded The Combat Infantryman’s Badge, The Bronze Star Medal, The Achievement Medal, The Army Commendation Medal, The Purple Heart Medal for his combat related wounds, The Vietnam Service Medal, The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Service Medal, The National Defense Service Medal and The Good Conduct Medal.

Cpl Robert Harold Pettit native of Charlotte, NC was 22 years old and was married. It was reported that Robert died from small arms fire or grenade. His body was recovered.

He was the husband of Mrs. Robert H. Pettit of Ferguson, NC. He served with Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 9th Marines, 3rd Marine Division, 3rd MAF. He was awarded The Combat Action Ribbon (CAR), The Purple Heart Medal for his combat related wounds, The Vietnam Service Medal, The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Service Medal, The National Defense Service Medal and The Good Conduct Medal.

Cpl Raymond Samuel Orr native of Matthews, NC was 20 years old and was not married. It was reported that Raymond died from an undetermined explosion. His body was recovered.

Written by:
Victoria Mackey, Correspondent
Indian Trail Newspaper

As the Viet Cong started firing at the platoon of tired, dirty, and battle fatigued Marines, they fell to the ground or behind a tree if they were lucky. Corporal Raymond Samuel Orr was lying on the ground next to his best buddy. Orr had killed several Viet Cong within his gun sites and his buddy was killing them too. After several minutes of the fire fight, Orr realized that his friend had been mortally wounded and was lying right beside him dying.

A gush of emotions ran over Orr. He wanted to get up and do anything he could to keep his buddy alive; radio in a medic, let the others in his platoon know what was happening, and put his hands on his buddy’s body to keep his blood from flowing onto the ground. But he couldn’t because if he got up, or even moved, he would be shot himself. He continued to shoot at the Viet Cong as he listened to his buddy’s screams and cries for help. It was all Orr could do to maintain his composure and continue shooting, while listening to his best friend in that foreign jungle die beside him; after a few minutes, the screaming and cries for help stopped. His buddy was dead and he did nothing to help him. Orr was consumed with guilt although he logically knew that under the circumstances there was nothing he could have done for his friend.

Orr would not be consumed with guilt for long because he was killed in a fire fight a few weeks later. The Marines told his family that he was killed in Quang Nam, South Vietnam as a result of exploding shrapnel from an undetermined explosion. Willis Orr, of Mint Hill, brother of Corporal Orr, stated that his brother told him how upset he was over seeing his buddy die right beside him during the fire fight. Willis does not think that his brother got over it before he died within weeks in another firefight. Raymond Orr was born on May 28, 1946 in Mint Hill, North Carolina, the son of Anjay and Bernice Montgomery Orr. There were thirteen children born to the family however most of them died before they became adults. The adult children were Raymond, Willis, Travis, and Anjay, Jr.

Willis stated that their Grandfather Adophus Orr bought land in Mint Hill and moved his family from the Hickory Grove area in Charlotte. All of Raymond’s family lived beside each other on that land. He was very athletic at J.H. Gunn High School, playing baseball and basketball. When he graduated in 1964, he immediately joined the Marines. Willis stated that Raymond wanted to join the Marines because they were the meanest, roughest, and toughest men of the United States military. Some of Raymond’s buddies from high school decided to follow him into the Marines. Raymond completed basic training at Parris Island, South Carolina and he was sent directly to Vietnam where he became a rifleman. Willis remembers that he received the Purple Heart but he could not remember the names of the other medals.

He was the son of Mr. Anjay Orr, Sr. (1915 – 1978) of Matthews, NC. He served with Mike Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division, 3rd MAF. He was awarded The Combat Action Ribbon (CAR), The Purple Heart Medal for his combat related wounds, The Vietnam Service Medal, The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Service Medal, The National Defense Service Medal and The Good Conduct Medal.

Sp4 Loomis Oglesby III native of Charlotte, NC was 28 years old and was married. It was reported that Loomis was very seriously wounded in Hostile Action and died from his wounds.

Loomis was the son of Mr. Loomis Oglesby, Jr. of Charlotte, NC. He served with Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, “Blue Spaders”, 1st Infantry Division, “Big Red One”. He was awarded The Combat Infantryman’s Badge, The Purple Heart Medal for his combat related wounds, The Vietnam Service Medal, The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Service Medal, The National Defense Service Medal and The Good Conduct Medal.